Mr. President,
I have the honor to make this statement on behalf of the OIC.

Once again, we express deep concern that certain member states decided to boycott Agenda Item 7 which is a deliberate attempt to undermine the credibility of the Human Rights Council. We would like to ask those boycotting agenda item 7 what did they achieve? Has Israel stopped its systematic violations of international law, human rights, and UN resolutions? It did not, but regardless some states have decided that its “unfair” to “single out” the only UN member state who has never honored one single resolution by the UN.

Israel, the Occupying power, continues to relentlessly act as a State above the law and unbound by principles of international lawand all without any consequence.

Mr. President,

52 years have passed since Israel occupied the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

Clearly this is not a “temporary occupation”, but a colonial settlement enterprise aimed at taking as much as Palestinian land and natural resources as possible. This is a grave violation of International Law and the obligations of Israel under signed agreements as well as of UN resolutions. As Israel celebrated last May 70 years of UN membership, this should serve as a reminder that Israel has never implemented any UN resolution dealing with the issue of Palestine.

The OIC is concerned that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory continue to expand, in particular in Occupied East Jerusalem and the surrounding areas.

The OIC also deplores projects aimed to link West Jerusalem to the Old City south of Al Aqsa Mosque Compound, in the occupied State of Palestine. In addition to being in clear violation of international humanitarian law, these projects will assist in the reinforcement of Israel’s illegal de facto annexation of East Jerusalem and encouraging the illegal transfer of Israel’s population into occupied Palestine.

We deplore the involvement of Israeli and multinational corporations in illegal settlements, resulting in the risk of corporate complicity in war crimes. Moreover, trade with Israeli settlements contributes to the existence and maintenance of settlements, and thus illegal and should be ceased. It is in this context we ask for the fulfillment of Resolution 31/36 mandate in its entirety, by publishing the Database at the earliest.

Mr. President,

The OIC strongly condemns the gross violation of Palestinian rights, especially in Gaza with the continuation of an imposed illegal military siege and punitive measures that began over 12 years ago. It is worth mentioning that Gaza is the most densely populated place and considered the poorest.

The OIC deplores the violent arrest and detention raids throughout the Occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Palestinian civilians are being detained daily with young men and boys especially targeted by the occupying forces. The total number of Palestinian detainees is approximately 5,700 of which 46 are women, 230 are children and approximately 500 administrative detainees.From 1967 to May 2019, 219 prisoners have died while in Israeli detention.

Mr. President,

The OIC is also concerned of the continued occupation of the Syrian Golan. And demands an end to its illegal occupation of Syrian land and Lebanese lands.

Every passing day reaffirms that Israel is more interested in colonizing Palestinian land, rather than achieving a just peace and security. The Question of Palestine has remained a failed test for the international community. In this sense, the United Nations has a special responsibility of putting an end to the over half a century of systematic Israeli violations of human rights and international law in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.